| Topic Name: |
Thank you note? No thanks. |
| Message Name: |
Relationship building = money |
| Date Posted: |
06/26/2006 |
| In Reply To: |
I am a university professor, and my department just concluded a few interviews for professor positions.
When one of our candidates sent thank you notes, I was stunned, and now I'm reading all about the importance of thank you notes as a follow-up to the interview.
I think this is ridiculous. We are forced to invite several candidates from all around the world to fly to Fresno to do their little dog and pony show for us, to try to convince us that they are the best candidate.
This is nothing less than pure humiliation for these people, I really feel their suffering. To thank us for it is just plain ingratiating, and to me it shows a complete disregard for one's own self-esteem. Let's be honest with ourselves and our job candidates: the interview process is a necessary evil that does not merit a thank-you from anyone who thinks highly of him/herself.
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| Message: |
Ok seriously... to The Professor ... you feel it is some how lowering the prospective employee's dignity to a new low if they send you a "Thank you note"? Wasting your time? How can you be so callous? Hell, if they came and performed for you, you said that yourself.You may have been forced to invite them but at least they still respect themselves more than you do. Give them some credit. They don't have to do it. What ever happened to business decorum? Yes we live in a technologically advanced society, with instant messages and curt emails but... What if the note is genuine? They know they did the dog and pony show. They still have the grace to say thank you for your time. Really are you so important that you can toss aside one of the last tokens of business etiquette? I know VP's in banking that aren't going to give you a job because you sent a thank you note, but the same individuals have later landed huge accounts because they sent that thank you note and built a relationship. Now that is simply good business. Maybe we should appreciate the power of relationship building "thank you" notes a bit more. Especially when a "thank you" can lead to a 1.5 million investment in the future. Wouldn't you rather have a person working in your department who understands the importance of positive relationship building techniques? I know grant writers , I know CEO's , I know Chair's of departments and to be successful, one has to know how to be remembered in a positive light. I thank you for your time and listening to one professional's opinion.
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